Recently I watched an inspiring video of the tennis great, Novak Djokovic being interviewed about the secret to his success. He said this: “If you lose your focus, if you know . . . . things start to go the wrong way for you, it’s fine. Accept it and come back. And I think that recovery of how long you stay in that emotion is what differentiates you from maybe others. I think the recovery is actually more important than working hard to stay in the present.”
I sent it to my youngest son who is a salesperson. In my way earlier younger years, I was in sales, too. There is a lot of rejection in sales. It can mire you down. But I believe what Djokovic says: feel the pain of rejection, accept it, and then get right back up into recovery mode.
Whatever is going on in your life, accept it. Face the reality of it. “It’s fine.” It’s life. But then put your energy into moving forward into recovery mode. As humans we tend to put a lot of energy in trying to keep things the way we think they should be: steady, problem-free and even-keel. But life doesn’t work that way. And so then we extend a lot of irritated energy into complaining about all of the things that we can’t control in life. As time has proven to us, again and again and again, a lot of life is out of our control. Like Djokovic says, “It’s fine.” It’s life. “Accept it and come back.” Put faith in what you can control which is your attitude and your belief in yourself that you can face and recover from any adversity. You have the tools. Accept it and come back. Accept it and come back. Accept it and come back.
Are you passing on love or are you passing on pain? Heal your pain and pass on love.
Here is the question of the day from 3000 Questions About Me:
2614. Are you a hypochondriac – or the opposite?
Thanks for sharing Djokovic’s thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly with him and with you. It’s the way we respond to adversity that builds character and determines the course of our lives.
During the recent Mercury retrograde period, I’ve been plagued by a rat problem. I battled rodents all last summer and I thought the problem had been resolved. But no, they’re back! It’s been a disgusting 3 weeks, but I’m happy to say that it appears (once again) that the problem is resolved. My point for relating this is that I took a different attitude this time: this is temporary, it will be over soon, and something good will result. My landlord got personally involved this time, coming out to inspect the situation for himself. He was so repelled and so apologetic that he’s already informed me that there will be no rent increase this year to make up for the mess and distress the situation has caused. So, instant karma!
On a different note, a little professional success: last weekend, two of my books won accolades at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! The memoir that I entered in the competition pulled an Honorable Mention, and the YA novel was voted Runner-Up! Not bad for my first time on the competition circuit!
Congratulations, Kelly – on all fronts!!! I can’t think of someone who deserves it more!! <3